A brumby is a wild horse. Usually they are worthless, but the brumbies in this story are a desirable type of horse called the Waler.


SARAH SCHOFIELD: It's a long way for 12 horses, 10 foals and 2 mares to come to reach a sanctuary and it's taken about two months for them to be trucked to Alice Springs, on to South Australia and then across to the east coast.

But finally this much-anticipated cargo is pulling into Glenworth Valley, just north of Sydney.

Until last year, Newhaven Station, 350km north-west of Alice Springs and near the Tanamai Desert, was a haven for wild horses.

But, when the property was sold, the horses had to go.

The Waler Society had identified the horses on Newhaven Station as being purebred Waler stock.

KATHRYN WILLIAMS: Oh, they're just magnificent! They're just beautiful! Really good condition, really happy with their condition.

SARAH SCHOFIELD: So, when the last 90 horses from Newhaven Station were taken to the saleyards in Alice Springs, several groups tried to rescue them. But they were too late. The horses were sold to a meat processor.

But these foals were too small and too lean to be worth anything, so they were left behind.

KATHRYN WILLIAMS: Could see the way they got off the truck how calm and perfect they were. Again, as I said, a testament to the breed.

SARAH SCHOFIELD: Are all brumbies Walers?

LUCY WEIR: No, definitely not. In fact, of the 300,000 or so wild horses in Australia, by the society's definitions, approximately about, less than 1 per cent would be classified as Walers.

LUCY WEIR: The main features of the Waler horse are the strong hooves, good bone in the legs, with the short cannon, deep girth, powerful hind quarters, good shoulder, intelligent-looking head with a kind eye.

And, of course, their temperament. Their temperament is everything.

SARAH SCHOFIELD: Next weekend, the Brumby Protection Group is holding its adoption day for the foals at Glenworth Valley.

The horses will initially be leased to guarantee their care and protection. A year down the track, the adoption will be finalised.

KATHRYN WILLIAMS: If I had any doubts before, now seeing them I have absolutely no doubt that these are all going to go to really good homes and we're going to make sure that they go to really good homes.